There are numerous relapse prevention techniques available to clients who have completed treatment. However, perhaps the best kind of aftercare program involves making sure an individual has a supportive community to turn to and the proper resources to prioritize self-care. Insight Recovery Center can not only guide clients through effective relapse prevention techniques but offers ongoing therapeutic support.
Relapse Prevention Techniques to Consider
Relapse can be physical, emotional, or mental. Each type can take its toll on an individual attempting to overcome drug or alcohol abuse.
A lack of mindfulness or self-awareness can cause a relapse. When individuals bottle up their feelings, isolate themselves from others, avoid social contact, or fail to engage in appropriate self-care, they put themselves in danger. This is where group therapy and individual therapy can be helpful. A common relapse prevention technique that addresses these emotional aspects is known by the acronym HALT–hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. By taking a moment to see to one’s physical, emotional, and mental needs, the risk of relapse is reduced.
Meeting these physical needs give individuals the grounding they need to deal with and healthily control their emotions. However, there are moments when using HALT to do a self-diagnostic isn’t enough to eliminate cravings. When triggers present themselves, individuals need to be able to turn to others for support. This is why group therapy and having a supportive community is so important. Others in a support group can give individuals the help they need, perhaps in the form of ways to avoid triggers or other techniques to minimize the temptation to relapse.
How an Aftercare Program Provides Added Support
Treatment for substance use disorder may run its course, but recovery is an ongoing process. For many who have completed a substance abuse treatment program, there’s still the need to find support and resources to stay sober and maintain their recovery. One way to do so is through an aftercare program. This kind of program is designed to give clients the support they need once they are out on their own after addiction treatment. It can take several forms: access to support group meetings, having a mentor or peer sponsor, or attending individual therapy sessions. No matter a client’s needs, the Insight Recovery Center has the aftercare to support a lasting recovery.
Upon completing treatment, an aftercare program helps clients improve their relapse prevention techniques. For example, aftercare improves an individual’s awareness of potentially negative or triggering encounters, events, or high-risk situations, allowing them to avoid or healthily deal with them. Relapse prevention means communicating with others to avoid temptations and learning effective techniques to reduce stress, strain, or emergencies.
Identifying triggers is vital in relapse prevention. Once individuals recognize their specific triggers, they can make practical and effective plans to avoid or minimize them. It can be challenging as some triggers arise from contact with friends or family and may require changing residence as an individual’s environment can trigger substance abuse. To successfully severe unhealthy ties, revise one’s relationships, and alter one’s living environment, support is needed. This is what aftercare provides–the practical and therapeutic support to make the tough but necessary decisions to stay healthy.
Insight Recovery Center
Through our substance abuse treatment programs, individuals learn relapse prevention techniques to help them through their everyday life once they complete treatment. However, we offer continuous support through aftercare programs that give clients the therapeutic resources needed to make their recovery more certain. Our intensive outpatient program can help those struggling with alcohol and drug abuse overcome their dependency and prevent addiction from arising in the first place. So reach out to our admissions counselors today at 703.592.6946 to learn more about our programs.
